The Six Nations needed fireworks this weekend – and the tournament finally delivered

With plenty of other big events happening, two dramatic matches helped the rugby make an impact on the sports section, writes Jack de Menezes

Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale (right) gets away from England’s Courtney Lawes during the game at Twickenham (PA)

It was earmarked as the weekend when the Six Nations was on the line, and so it proved. Luckily for rugby union, the championship came through with flying colours.

I don’t mean the title, which looks as though it will still have two more rounds to play out before a 2020 champion can be crowned, but rather the fight to be visible among the British press at all. After two rather uninspiring rounds of rugby, the Six Nations needed something to jolt it into life and grab the attention of a public that had plenty more sport on offer.

Tyson Fury’s stunning victory in Las Vegas overnight came too late to make the Sunday papers, meaning his image would be guaranteed to be plastered across the front and back pages on Monday morning. And with both Manchester United and Arsenal in Premier League action – and Liverpool’s Monday night clash with West Ham being previewed too – space was in short supply for rugby to make an impact.